Valentine鈥檚 Day means that love and romance is in the air 鈥� which means it鈥檚 as good a time as ever to talk about sex.
This week is Sexual Health Week at Dal, when the team at Dal鈥檚 Office of Student Health Promotion reaches out to students and encourages them to take some time to think carefully about their sexual health. Unfortunately, it's not something everyone always puts a lot of thought towards.
"A recent National College Health Assessment survey of Dal students indicated that only 49 per cent use a condom or other protective barrier (mostly or always) when engaging in sexual activity,鈥� says Derrick Enslow, program manager of student health promotion. 鈥淭his is why it鈥檚 important to have the Student Health Promotion team talk to their peers about sex 鈥� especially at this time of year."
So whether you鈥檙e thinking romance this weekend or not, here are some key pieces of advice everyone should remember when it comes to a healthy sex life.
1. Stay protected 鈥� always
Gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis might not be as common to contract from oral sex as vaginal or anal sex, but there鈥檚 no doubt it鈥檚 possible. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always telling students to use some form of protection,鈥� says Enslow. 鈥淪ometimes that conversation about using protection takes away from the spontaneity, but it鈥檚 about being prepared.鈥�
2. Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask
It鈥檚 good to know your partner鈥檚 past sexual history and, if you don鈥檛 know, ask. The hooking-up culture might try and tell you otherwise, but casual sex can come with not-so-casual consequences, with STIs that could stay with you for life. Always have a condom handy. Apart from abstinence, it鈥檚 the only form of birth control that prevents STIs.
3. Only 鈥測es鈥� means yes
We all know that no means no when engaging in sexual activity, but Enslow thinks a better way to focus on the issue is a yes means yes mentality. 鈥淯nless you actually hear yes, you shouldn鈥檛 actually engage in any sexual activities,鈥� says Enslow. 鈥淎nd if you鈥檙e deciding whether or not to say yes, make sure you haven't had too much to drink. You may regret your decision once you sober up.鈥�
4. Don鈥檛 feel pressured
Especially around Valentine鈥檚 Day, it can feel alienating to not have someone special in your life. Don鈥檛 let that pressure you into something you鈥檙e not comfortable with. Make Valentine鈥檚 Day like any other day of the year: Enslow encourages students to get involved in other activities such as going out with a group of friends, staying in to watch a movie or read a book, or throwing a dinner party.
5. Enjoy yourself
Once you鈥檙e sure you鈥檙e protected, try new things that you鈥檙e both comfortable with. And you can still have fun even if you don鈥檛 have intercourse, whether it's cuddling, kissing or just get to know each other鈥檚 bodies in a less sexual way.